“What was that fish?” is a common question heard after a dive. If you want to be the scuba diver with the answers, instead of the one asking the questions, then take the AWARE – Fish Identification Specialty course! You’ll enjoy dives even more when you recognize the creatures that you see and can identify the main fish families and their characteristics. During the two scuba dives, you’ll learn:
Sometimes the coolest stuff to see is deeper than you are trained for during your Open Water course. Want to know how to safely approach recreational limits? Want the confidence that will allow you to enjoy a usually more limited time at depth? Try the Deep Diver Specialty! During the four scuba dives, you’ll learn:
Underwater photography is one of the most popular diving specialties, and with so many underwater cameras to choose from, it has become easier and more fun than ever to capture images of your underwater scuba adventures. The Digital Underwater Photographer course gets you going quickly, whether you use a point-and-shoot camera or a sophisticated dSLR like the pros. With hands on training during your two dives, you will learn:
Want to stay warm? Want to extend your scuba diving season? Then dive dry. A dry suit seals you off from the water and keeps you comfortable, even in surprisingly cold water. There is incredible diving in the world’s cooler regions and in some areas, conditions even better in colder months. Becoming a dry suit diver allows you to expand your boundaries and dive more places, more often.
Administration of emergency oxygen is key in treating the majority of dive accidents. The Emergency O2 provider course will give you the skills and confidence to provide this important aid in the case of an accident. During this course you will learn:
You may have seen people diving on tanks marked with green & yellow tape saying something like “NITROX” and maybe you’ve wondered what it is. Maybe everybody on your liveaboard trip signed up for a week’s worth or you just noticed the extra line on the boat waiver for it. Maybe you’ve heard people talk about “Gucci Gas” or “Geezer Juice” and been intrigued. Maybe somebody even tried to make it sound like something scary that required heaps of training and lots of money to get into.
Why should the time of day limit your diving? Doesn’t have to with the Night Diver Specialty! Experience the underwater world in a whole new way! Night dives offer more and different types of aquatic life, the added adventure of diving in the dark, and the ability to use some new skills and equipment specific to night diving. In this course you will learn:
Excellent buoyancy control is what defines skilled scuba divers. With this skills comes the ability to glide effortlessly, use less air, and observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings. This specialty course improves the buoyancy skills you learned as a new diver and elevates them to the next level. During the two scuba dives, you will learn:
Project AWARE’s philosophy is to mobilize a global force of scuba divers and water enthusiasts who care about protecting the world’s water resources and choose to make a difference – one dive at a time. By earning the Project AWARE Specialist certification, you’ll be aware of the most pressing problems facing vulnerable aquatic environments and know what everyday actions you can take to help protect them. There are no prerequisites, age restrictions or water sessions required for this non-diving specialty.
It happens: People accidentally drop things from docks, off boats or even while scuba diving. If you’ve ever lost something in the water and wanted to go find it, then the PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course is for you. There are effective ways to search for objects underwater that increase your chances of success. And there are good and better methods to bring up small, large or just awkward items. Search and recovery can be challenging, but a whole lot of fun. Throughout four scuba dives, you’ll practice:
We all know you see some pretty cool stuff while you’re out scuba diving. What’s even better is knowing what all that cool stuff you’re actually seeing is! The Underwater Naturalist Specialty will help you better understand the aquatic environment in which you’re diving. More than just fish and species ID, the Underwater Naturalist teaches you how they all interact with each as parts of an ecosystem. Knowing how life interacts will open your eyes underwater, allowing you to see even more than normal. During the two scuba dives, you’ll learn:
Frustrated that you can't find the boat at the end of your dive? Want to know how to explore the underwater world without getting lost? Want to feel confident that you'll achieve your underwater goals and still exit with plenty of gas in your tank? The Underwater Navigation Specialty is for you! You'll learn how to navigate using natural clues and by following compass headings. During three scuba dives, you’ll practice:
Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers, or lost as the result of an accident, wrecks are fascinating windows to the past. Ships, airplanes and even automobiles are fascinating to explore and usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for discovery! There are many different types of wrecks. Your training starts by reviewing guidelines for researching and respecting wrecks. During your four dives you will learn:
